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Professional/Arts - Grant request excerpt to a private foundation for capacity building project

Excerpts from a grant application to a private foundation. As a result of this application, Texas Ballet Theater was awarded $107,500 in 2014 in matching funds for the purpose of funding a long-term strategic planning project.

Texas Ballet Theater has prospered under the helm of Artistic Director Ben Stevenson, O.B.E. Under his leadership since 2003, Company dancers have developed the artistic interpretation, technical proficiency and athletic skill to stand toe-to-toe with many of the best dancers in the nation. The Ballet also has premiered numerous works that are new to the North Texas region and has added to its inventory at least six full-length productions for use by the Company and/or as rental properties to other ballet companies.

For FY14, The Ballet has an operating budget of $7.4 million. Historically, income in the form of charitable gifts from individuals, trusts and foundations, corporations, and events has accounted for slightly less than 50% of the annual budget. Over the past two years, Texas Ballet Theater has demonstrated financial stability by honing cost control measures, expanding philanthropic development and increasing subscription sales. These efforts have resulted in slight year-end budget surpluses for FY12 and FY13.

With this success, Texas Ballet Theater now faces an institutional crossroad: our achievements have not resulted in a parallel increase in audience or contributions, and we have experienced phases of financial uncertainty.

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This strategic planning initiative will take Texas Ballet Theater from its present state as a good ballet company to its realized capacity as a transformative arts institution. Texas Ballet Theater subscribes to the same goal of “reaching new levels of achievement” that is stated on (private) Foundation’s website. The dancers who comprise our Company have reached their levels of professionalism by constantly working to master new skills and improve their technique. As a corporate body, all of Texas Ballet Theater’s staff and Board members strive to match the standard exhibited by our dancers. We respectfully request the financial assistance of (private) Foundation to help us reach that goal.